Transformers was and is the kind of toyline that stands on its source gimmick, that being a robot turns into vehicles, weapons, animals, and even other machines. While there used to be tech specs with the characters personalities, you only had stories if you watched the TV show or went to the comic store. (Actually, my Transformers comics came out when I could still get them at a grocery store and the first few came out at the pharmacy near my school, which is gone. I also had a subscription at one point so they came right to my house.) Marvel never made any mini-comics and Hasbro doesn’t have an in-house comic studio ready to go like Mattel had with Masters Of The Universe and the DC deal.
However, Dreamwave, whose artists also did the artwork for the Armada and I think early Energon boxes (it’s been a while) also made a series of minicomics packed in with the toys of those lines. You know, before Pat Lee sunk the company like the Titanic. I thought I reviewed one of these already for Free Comic Inside but it doesn’t look like I have. So let’s take a look at the first one to see how they started out. I’ll give you a hint: you may want some extra Energon for this one.
“That’s MY lava lamp!”
Transformers: Armada Vol. 1
Hasbro/Dreamwave (2002)
WRITER: Chris Sarracini PENCILER: James Raiz INKER: Rob Armstrong COLORISTS: Alan Want & The Real T LETTERS: Dreamer Design DREAMWAVE PRESIDENT: Pat Lee VP/EDITOR IN CHIEF: Roger Lee DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT: Derek Choo-Wing PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Elizabeth Santos PRODUCER: Adam FortierSome of these credits are a first for mini-comics.
